Embattled A-League club Brisbane have taken another hit, with long-time backers The Coffee Club opting not to renew their major sponsorship.
In a development that will exacerbate the club’s precarious financial position, the company – part-owned by former Roar shareholders Emmanuel Drivas and Emmanuel Kokoris – has severed ties with Brisbane after eight years.
The deal was worth $650,000 a year to the Roar and was the longest-standing commercial partnership of its kind in the A-League.
“As a business, we’re embarking upon an exciting new brand direction anchored in fostering reconnection and being a place where meeting up means more,” Drivas said in a statement released to AAP.
“The Coffee Club along with our near 300-strong franchise network, is looking forward to aligning with a new sponsorship partner who better reflects this next chapter of our organisation’s story.”
Roar chairman Chris Fong said the club had valued sponsor’s support over the years.
“Both organisations have shared many successes together and we thank The Coffee Club for their support as we both take on new challenges ahead,” he said.
The Roar must embark on a search for a major sponsor at a time when the club can barely scrape together two pennies.
Players only this week were delivered the wages they should have received on June 15, eking out some breathing space for Brisbane and owners The Bakrie Group, who are battling a financial crisis of their own.
The payment of players will make it tougher for those seeking a release from the club.
But it’s understood staff have not yet been paid and the $3.5 million recapitalisation promised by Bakrie has also not arrived.
Football Federation Australia is keeping a close eye on the situation and will be forced to act if players and staff are again not paid on July 15, the next due date for wages.
The Roar will train for the first time under new coach John Aloisi on Friday, at the club’s temporary home at Griffith University’s Nathan campus.
Paul
Guest
Coffee Club - great for those who like microwaved eggs
j binnie
Guest
Fuss. I have been absent from the country for over 7 weeks and yet it took a few phone calls and discussions with contacts in the game to find out what has been happening and what is likely to happen,informtion that I am sad to say has all come to pass.I am not an investigative journalist but if I can glean information that comes to pass as being correct I am sure professionals should be able to do likewise but if you don't mind I'll leave that task to the professionals. However youwill note I did say elsewhere that the 'history of mis-management" does go back much further than the last 11 years in fact it can be traced back to 1988 when Brisbane Lions were tossed out of the NSL never again to participate in a national competition.Ill leave it at that point. Cheers jb
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
jb You're being very mysterious. Unless you are subject to confidentiality agreements why would you not simply tell us the stuff that you know has not yet "come out in the wash"? The beauty of open media is that anyone with information can be a whistleblower & expose information.
j binnie
Guest
Fuss - It would pay you to stay clear of this discussion for there is much that has still not "come out in the wash" so to speak. If one cares to go back through the history of not only the Roar but it's supposed predecessor club,Brisbane Lions , the path is strewn with what could only be described as mis-management at the highest levels in both clubs,that is a fact ,sad, but true.You once asked me to write a book,what I am talking about would take up a book alone,never mind the rest of Australian football. Step carefully my friend. Cheers jb
Lionheart
Guest
They were a good fit, with a two for one coffee deal and discounted meals, but farewell to them. Moving on now. Still have Pauls handing out free ice creams occasionally after games.
Lionheart
Guest
No, they haven't said that at all. Lots of business deals and contracts change every day.
Lionheart
Guest
Has any other A League club ever changed shirt sponsor? Fuss says MV did. I'm sure this must happen regularly to many clubs. In fact, didn't Sydney change last season? The issue at Roar is funding by the owners, not change of sponsors.
Waz
Guest
Poison challis that one Real, if Roar get taken over by the FFA all the players contracts are null and void - how many would hang around? City, Perth, Wanderers, Jets, Mariners, Phoenix or overseas clubs who are all looking for players so you'd imagine we could lose five or six. Better the devil we know I think, the Bakries need to keep the wheels on, stump up the money and put decent managers in unlike last time. Any investor needs to be someone who brings something to the club - expertise or something more than just sharing financial losses. Surely an EPL or Championship club could see the benefit, just look at the young kids that have been developed by this club and the conveyor belt of talent coming through.
jod
Guest
Even better overcome the caffeine addiction...
Chris
Guest
Agree and they walked away because the club wanted more money and coffee club weren't willing to up their bid simple business . Lad brokes have now signed on . The roar will be fine every club goes through ups and downs .
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Sure. That's pretty much the default PR statement I'd issue if I decided to sever links with an organisation.
marcel
Guest
..the sponsor has basically come out and said the association with BR is not good for their brand...
Waz
Guest
... the mail were well aware the Coffee Club were not going to renew so reported the opposite.
Neil
Guest
Plenty of other cafe's around, they're were too dear anyway.
RBBAnonymous
Guest
I understand what your saying Fuss. Its out of Brisbane's control. This is not Man Utd or Chelsea we are talking about. We are a small league in world terms and Brisbane is a medium sized market within this small league. If they have a plan B then I would surely love to hear what it is. It wouldnt be easy getting a major sponsor like coffee club on board but I hope they do and I hope they do it soon.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Well that didn't take long. Only 1 match, but it's a start. Ladbrokes, who sponsored BrisRoar in 2014/15, have announced it will increase its involvement with the club and become the front-of-shirt sponsor for the upcoming friendly against EPL club, Liverpool. "This is the first time Ladbrokes have had front-of-shirt position on a jersey and we are delighted that it is for such a high-profile game”, said James Burnett, Chief Marketing Officer at Ladbrokes Australia. Full story: http://www.brisbaneroar.com.au/article/roar-teams-with-ladbrokes-for-liverpool-match/ltjor0vyrr3q1moq6ch299phg#b6ihfMQqu26u2TWM.99
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Sacking Mike Mulvey - agree, not a good look. Not paying players wages - agree, not a good look. But, a sponsor not renewing a contract happens all the time. I've given you examples of Samsung not renewing the contract with MVFC. AIG didn't renew its contract with ManUnited. These are the 2 clubs are the most financially-strong, well run & successful football clubs in AUS and ENG respectively. As far as i'm concerned when the sponsors moved on it wasn't a 'bad look for those clubs".
AR
Guest
If I recall correctly, those reports were actually - "the Coffee Club is reportedly *set* to renew its sponsorship..." No doubt wishful thinking for those at the club.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Sure, Vince, in any business you'd prefer to hold onto a major "client". But, if the agreement was up for renewal, Brisbane would've been naive to not plan for a contingency which involved Coffee Club not renewing the contract. I've lost many contracts during my business career. But, the only time I worried was when the pipeline was dry. Were you aware Samsung didn't renew its MVFC shirt sponsorship? Pretty sure Adecco also didn't renew its shirt sponsorship last season. But, MVFC would've planned for this. IN business, when contracts are up for renegotiation it's always a stressful time. But, good management plans for stressful times. Having said that, Brisbane Roar's management appear to be lacking in many areas, so your concern may be well-founded
RBBAnonymous
Guest
Its still not a good look and it should be a concern. A 650k sponsorship in a medium market like Brisbane is nothing to be sneezed at. This is the exact scenario I don't want to happen in the A-league just when it looked like we were gathering some momentum from the World Cup, the Asian cup win and then the women's world cup. We want as many eyes on the A-league as possible and people interested in the A-league. I hope Brisbane has a plan B because if they don't find a major sponsor soon then it might be the beginning of the end for them. This is supposed to be one of the more successful clubs in Australia as well. Hopefully the Brisbane football supporters can still go out and support their team as always, and lets hope for the A-leagues sake that the FFA aren't looking to step in again because I am sure they don't want to. It would be difficult to support both Newcastle and Brisbane at the same time.